Perfect game drives home RockHounds' worth to Midland

by Midland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Dallas Braden leaped right into the pages of baseball history on Sunday when he threw a perfect game for the Oakland Athletics against the Tampa Bay Rays. For most Midlanders that fact probably sailed right over their heads. It shouldn't have.

There have been only 19 perfect games recorded in Major League Baseball history. It is a rare feat indeed, and Midlanders should be celebrating along with the A's. After all Braden is a former Midland RockHound, so we should be honoring his accomplishment along with everyone else.

The only other pitcher in A's history to toss a perfect game was Catfish Hunter, who did so on May 8, 1968, against Minnesota. The last no-hitter in A's franchise history came on June 29, 1990, when Dave Stewart accomplished the feat. Coincidentally, Braden could have tossed his perfecto on the same day of the year as Catfish if he had just pitched one day earlier.

Braden pitched parts of threes seasons with the 'Hounds from 2005 to 2007. He pitched 97 innings for the Midland team in 2005, recording a 9-5 record while posting a fine 3.90 ERA. He pitched only 3.1 innings for Midland in 2006 and 12 innings in 2007. Overall he was 10-5 for the RockHounds.

Until this perfect game, Braden was probably better known for chastizing the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez for walking across his pitcher's mound. Now, he has a moment that is Hall of Fame worthy since his feat is on a very short list.

But we think this great accomplishment also should serve as a reminder to Midlanders what the RockHounds give us every night they play at Citibank Ballpark. We are seeing the future greats of the game perform before our very eyes.

Of course, we shouldn't have to have a perfect game to drive home that point because so many of baseball's great players have paraded their talents before us. We see future major leaguers nearly every game, if not from the RockHounds then from the other Texas League clubs.

We could give you a list as long as an arm of players who have played for Midland or been here with other Texas League teams, but you would grow weary of all the great names and we might leave out you favorite.

But to Dallas Braden we offer our heartiest congratulations, and we hope this amazing performance will be an inspiration to the hundreds of minor leaguers who are trying to follow in your shoes.